by G. K. DeRosa
“Aha!” she said, pointing her delicate finger at a rather lengthy incantation. She traced the words with her thumb and then wrinkled her nose in displeasure.
“What is it?” he asked. “Did you find the spell?”
“Yes,” she said, “but we have a problem.”
Brazen knitted his brows as he waited impatiently for her to finish reading. “And?”
“I need one more thing to complete the immortality potion,” she said.
“What?”
“Any idea where we can find the Albsurori ring?” she asked.
Brazen’s face went ashen. He couldn’t believe it was the same ring he had had in his hands just one short month ago. “I do,” he said, shaking his head gruffly, “but there is no way we can get it from him.”
“Who?” she asked, her bright green eyes wide with curiosity.
“Ever heard of Alek, Fabian’s old apprentice?” he asked.
“Of course I have. He was raised by my Queen when he was just a boy. I remember hearing stories about him as a child.”
“Well then, you should know that he is not someone you want to mess with,” he said.
“So you’re going to give up?” she asked. “I have risked a lot to help you and your pack. If the Queen knew that I’ve been hiding you in the land of the Fae there is no telling what she would do to me.”
Brazen reached a paw around the scrawny girl’s shoulders. “She’ll never find out. I’ll protect you. And anyway, I think I know of one thing – or should I say two people - that Alek wants more in this world than that ring. I’ll bring them to him and offer a trade.”
***
Celeste hurried down the stairs when the doorbell rang, nearly tripping over Rocky as he passed her on the way down with his tail wagging in excitement. She flung the door open and the two girls shrieked with joy.
“I am so glad you came,” said Celeste as she hugged her friend.
“Are you kidding me? Like I would miss a charity ball?” retorted Natalie as she grabbed her friend and did a little happy dance in a circle.
“Thanks for coming early to help me with hair and makeup,” Celeste said as she led her up the stairs.
“You know how much I live for stuff like this,” she answered. “And I cannot wait to see you in your dress again. Roman is going to drop dead when he sees you.”
Celeste giggled. Having Natalie back and going to this dance was just what she needed to forget about all the supernatural craziness for a little while. When they got up to Celeste’s room, Nat sat her down in the bathroom in front of the mirror and began unpacking her makeup bag and curling iron.
“So have you and Roman talked since the big night?” Natalie asked.
“Nope not really. He’s texted me a few times just to check in, but we haven’t had ‘the talk.’ Like I told you at the mall, I just want to enjoy the moment and not worry about all the details yet.”
“I get it,” she answered as she brushed out her long blonde curls. “You guys have been through a lot, and I’m sure it’ll all work out like it’s supposed to.”
“How about you and Nico? Is the long distance getting any easier?” Celeste asked.
“It’s been really good lately because we’ve seen a lot of each other. But the more I see him the harder it is when he’s not there, ‘ya know?”
“Totally.”
“And last night he took me to this really cute French bistro and he ordered a fancy bottle of wine and then he told me he was falling in love with me!” she exclaimed. Celeste could see her friend’s huge smile reflected in the mirror and it filled her with glee.
“Oh my gosh, Nat! That’s so big! What did you say?” she asked.
“I told him I was too.”
“Yay! I am so happy for you two!” cried Celeste.
“I was pretty surprised,” admitted Natalie as she wrapped a section of Celeste’s hair around the curling iron. “I know Nico’s had a lot of girlfriends, and I knew he liked me, but I kind of thought we were just having fun.”
“Yeah, right! I knew he’d be helpless to your charms,” said Celeste.
“I’m the one that’s helpless. I think I’ve been in love with him since the day he took you to prom,” Natalie confessed.
Celeste gave her a warm smile through the mirror. “Well you’ve got him now, and trust me, the Constantin brothers don’t give out their love easily.”
Natalie glanced away sheepishly. “Okay no more talking, I need to do your mascara now so keep still!” she ordered.
After what seemed like hours of being poked and prodded by Natalie’s make-up implements, Celeste was at last in the sparkling blue gown and admiring her friend’s work in the full-length mirror. She held her breath as she glanced at the young woman reflected—a person she almost didn’t recognize. Natalie had given Celeste a sophisticated up-do, leaving a few golden curls to hang loosely around her face. And she had done an amazing job on her eyes. Her normally boring hazel color was popping with shades of green and gold, brought out by the expertly applied shimmering gold shadows and dark eyeliner. The beautiful dress put the entire look over the top; Celeste felt like she had just walked out of a fairytale with the floor-length full-skirted gown.
“Was I right or what? Roman is totally going to lose it when he sees you!” said Natalie grinning proudly as she emerged from the bathroom.
Celeste glanced back at her friend who looked stunning in a crimson fitted strapless gown, her bouncy chestnut hair grazing her shoulders. “I think they’re both going to lose it when they see us,” she said.
Not two seconds later, the doorbell rang and Rocky raced down the stairs to greet the guests with Celeste and Natalie following close behind.
“Hey,” said Brian, walking in and then fully taking in the girls as his eyes adjusted to the lights. “Wow! You girls look hot.” His eyes scanned each of them from head to toe in obvious appreciation.
“Thank you,” they replied in unison.
“You clean up pretty well yourself,” said Nat as she pulled him into a hug.
“I’m getting a sense of déjà vu,” said Brian. “Didn’t we do this about a year ago.”
“Not quite a year,” Celeste answered, “but it does seem like forever ago that we went to prom together, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah,” said Brian. “And so much has changed.”
Celeste looked at him knowingly. It was moments like these that she wished Natalie knew about her secret. Keeping half of her life hidden from her friend was tough but she knew it was necessary.
“Well, for one, we’re all going with different dates!” said Natalie.
“That’s totally what I meant,” said Brian with a smirk.
“So where is Marie?” asked Celeste.
“She’s running a little late. She should be here soon, some family thing,” answered Brian. There was something in the way he said “family” that made Celeste curious.
“Come on, let’s pop some bubbly while we wait for our dates to get here. It’ll be like old times with just the three of us,” said Natalie, leading them into the kitchen.
Just as Brian popped the cork off the bottle and bubbles spewed everywhere, they heard the sound of an engine pulling into the driveway.
“I wonder what wild car Nico got us this time,” said Brian.
“Don’t look at me,” said Natalie, “I have no idea. He picked it out all by himself. He said he wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Well, I don’t hear a roaring engine like last time, so it can’t be the monster Hummer again,” said Celeste.
“It better not be. I can’t climb into a big truck with this dress!” said Natalie, pulling at her skintight gown. The three of them rushed to the window to see just as the doorbell rang.
Opening the door, Celeste’s eyes widened at the sight of the handsome brothers in flawless black tuxedos. Both wore elegant black bow ties and where Roman had a navy blue pocket square, Nico wore a crimson cumber bun, both matching their respective
dates. Natalie joined her seconds later, her mouth hanging open mirroring the expression on the brothers’ faces.
Roman finally spoke, his voice rough with emotion. “You look incredible,” he said, taking Celeste’s hand and spinning her around to get the full 360-degree view.
“So do you,” she said, admiring the fitted cut of the suit on his broad shoulders. And his eyes – they were as bright blue as the sapphire on her ring. She twisted the one he had given her for Christmas around her finger, remembering everything they had been through.
Brian appeared with a tray of champagne flutes to break up the love fest between the couples. “Marie is on her way, so we have just enough time for a glass,” he said. They each took a flute and clinked their glasses together with big smiles, toasting a wonderful evening.
When Marie arrived, the group headed out to the driveway, eager to see the car Nico had chosen. Celeste was shocked to see a glistening white Rolls Royce Phantom limo, complete with a black uniformed driver.
“It’s so elegant,” murmured Celeste to Roman.
“I convinced him to go with something a little more classy this time around. I heard all about the Hummer for the Christmas party,” he whispered with a sneer.
“It’s amazing Nico!” said Natalie, jumping into his arms.
“I thought you girls would like this better,” he said proudly.
“Good call,” said Brian.
The six of them piled into the elegant Rolls Royce, which was filled with chilled bottles of champagne. “Maybe one more glass for the road?” asked Nico as he popped the cork before anyone had a chance to answer.
Marie had slid into the seat next to Celeste and though she had promised herself one night without any thoughts of the supernatural, she couldn’t help but ask about her “family thing.” Marie hadn’t said more than a few words since her arrival, which was odd for her normal lively personality.
“Is everything okay?” Celeste whispered.
Marie glanced over at her, distracted. “Huh? Oh yeah, everything’s okay. Sorry I was late.”
“No problem. Brian mentioned a family issue?”
“I went to the land of the Fae to get my hair done,” she explained. Celeste then noticed her lustrous auburn hair had been twisted and pinned up with beautiful flowering vines. “And just as I was leaving, there was a security breach so they put us all on lockdown.”
“What kind of a security breach?” asked Celeste, her brows knitted.
“I’m not sure exactly. All I know is that there were intruders on our lands. I heard rumors they were werewolves, but I don’t know for sure,” she answered.
Celeste didn’t like the sound of that. First the Black Devils raided the Albsurori compound and now they were possibly in Fae territory. What were they up to? “Let me know if you find out anything more,” said Celeste.
“Sure,” answered Marie.
Celeste took a sip of her champagne and tried to push away the dark thoughts that had encroached on her fun-filled evening.
“You okay?” asked Roman, noticing her frown.
“Yes,” she said as she gave him a quick kiss and tried to forget all about the werewolves.
The Oak Bluffs Hospital charity ball was held in the old Dalton Mansion adjacent to the town square. The Daltons were one of the founding families of Oak Bluffs and their home had been converted into a small museum preserving the town’s history. Some of their descendants were still around, and in fact, Celeste had gone to school with some of the Dalton kids, not that she had ever been a fan of them. Growing up with money and power had made them spoiled and bratty, in her opinion.
Celeste walked up the steps with Roman’s hand in hers, and she didn’t think she had ever seen the mansion looking so beautiful. The red brick façade with tall white columns had been decorated with hanging lights and candle lit lanterns illuminating the entryway. Inside, the roaring fire cast a warm glow on the antique furnishings and shimmering chandeliers. A five-piece band was situated in the corner of the parlor and a middle-aged man belted out an old Frank Sinatra hit. Celeste caught sight of her mom talking to one of the black-suited catering staff and steered Roman toward her. She was so proud of her mom for putting together such an amazing event and couldn’t wait to tell her.
“You look absolutely beautiful, sweetie,” said her mom catching sight of her as she approached.
“No Mom, you do! And the place looks incredible! You did such a fantastic job. I can’t believe this is the same stuffy old museum,” said Celeste, admiring the space.
Her mom laughed. “I’m glad you kids were able to make it,” she said nodding at Roman politely.
“You look radiant, Mrs. Wilder,” said Roman with a slight bow. “And you really have outdone yourself. I’ve never seen this house looking quite so spectacular.”
“Thank you both. Now go have fun! I have to go check on the caterer and make sure everything is on schedule,” she said as she hurried off toward the back of the house.
Celeste turned to Roman and adjusted his black tie. “Have you been here before?” she asked.
“Many years ago,” he answered, his eyes taking on a faraway expression. “When my family first moved here in the 1920’s, the Daltons used to hold an annual Christmas party. We had been invited as we were new in town, and they wanted to welcome us.”
“Wow,” she answered. Sometimes Celeste still had a hard time coming to terms with how old Roman really was and how much he had been through before she came into his life. The way he acted and spoke seemed so normal and modern most of the time that she frequently disregarded his true age altogether. She found it overwhelming, and avoided dwelling on it too often.
“Come on,” he said. “That’s old history anyway and I want to focus on our future.” She gave him a wholehearted smile and he took her hand to lead her to the dance floor. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, swaying gently to the sweet music of Moon River playing behind them.
Celeste glanced up from Roman’s shoulder as the song ended, seeing Natalie and Nico and Brian and Marie dancing just a few feet away from them. They were all happiness and smiles. She watched her friends contentedly and wished that she could somehow freeze this moment in time. Everything was perfect as she leaned into Roman’s chest and the classic music of The Way You Look Tonight filled the air.
“May I cut in?” asked Brian, appearing over Roman’s shoulder.
Roman’s smile twisted into a slight grimace, but he nonetheless bowed out gracefully. “I’ll go get us some drinks,” he said as he left for the bar.
“Where did Marie go?” asked Celeste as she put her arms around Brian’s neck and began to dance to the slow melody.
“Ladies’ room – her phone was ringing and she said it was important,” he answered with a shrug.
“Did she tell you anything about the intruder incident in Fae?” she asked, the wheels in her mind churning as she wondered if this important phone call was somehow related.
“No, she didn’t tell me anything about that,” he answered, a worried look crossing his face. “What’s going on?”
“It’s probably nothing, so just forget I said anything,” she said. “I promised myself this would be a supernatural-free night and I want to keep it that way.”
“Sounds good to me,” said Brian as he twirled her in a small circle.
Celeste giggled as she grabbed her long gown and hiked it up a bit so as not to trip over the flowy trailing fabric. “When did you learn how to do that?” she asked when Brian pulled her back in.
“I’ve gotten better since prom, huh?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye. “Thank Marie. She’s a really good dancer and she taught me some moves.”
“I’m impressed. She’s done a great job with you.”
“There she is now,” said Brian pulling away as Marie approached.
“Everything okay?” asked Celeste.
“Yes, it looks like it was a false alarm in Fae. The guards searched the grounds
but couldn’t find the intruders,” said Marie.
“That’s good news,” said Celeste as Roman returned with two glasses of champagne.
“Can I have my lovely date back now?” Roman asked Brian with a sarcastic inflection.
“She’s all yours,” answered Brian as he took Marie’s hand and led her away.
Roman placed his hand on the small of Celeste’s back and guided her to a quiet corner of the dance floor. After a quick sip of champagne, they put their glasses down on the cocktail table. Roman wrapped his arms around Celeste’s waist and pulled her close to him. She reciprocated with a slow soft kiss as she began to follow his lead and the steady beat of the music.
Suddenly, Celeste felt a pang in her stomach, and she nearly doubled over from the ominous sensation.
“Are you okay?” asked Roman.
“No!” she gasped. “Something’s not right.” She scanned the dance floor, the entrance and the back of the house trying to identify the source of the threatening feeling.
In an instant, Roman had wordlessly warned Nico from across the dance floor and the two of them switched to high alert mode. All three surveyed the room and the hundred or so guests.
“Brian, you have to get out of here,” said Celeste hurrying toward him and Marie. “Someone bad is coming.” Just as Celeste got the words out of her mouth, the front door crashed open and Brazen, Vinny and a crew of burly werewolves wielding hefty weapons came hurdling through. People screamed and began running in their fancy dresses and suits as the music came to a screeching halt.
“Mom!” shouted Celeste, seeing her just a few feet away from Brazen with a terrified look in her eyes. “Run!” The confused expression on her mom’s face dissipated as she turned and ran, guiding panicked people around her toward the back porch doors.
With her mom safely out of the way, Celeste sprang into action, Roman and Nico right behind her. Roman lunged forward to strike Brazen in the face with a powerful punch that sent him reeling backward. Nico went after two of the large werewolves and Celeste found herself face to face with Vinny. He was still in human form, but his fangs had dropped and his claws were fully extended. He growled menacingly at her. Celeste had no weapons handy; the Wilder sword didn’t exactly go with her gown. As Vinny leapt, Celeste threw an uppercut, hitting him squarely under the jaw and sending him flying back to break an antique chair to splinters. Another werewolf in wolf form came bounding toward her, his hackles raised, but before he reached her a strong wall of wind formed in between them and sent the confused wolf soaring through the air. Celeste glanced back to see Marie wiggling her nose while standing protectively in front of Brian, as well as a frightened and confused Natalie. Celeste thanked Marie with a quick smile and a nod before turning her attention back to the fight.
